What is Model United Nations?

Model United Nations is a form of international relations debate that places students acting in the capacity of diplomats, ambassadors, and heads of state of a nation into the wide committees, conferences, and forums of the large United Nations infrastructure and beyond. Delegates will have to research topics, imagine solutions, debate with their fellow delegates, reach compromises, and arrive at resolutions that may solve some of the foremost problems facing the globe today.

What kind of committees should I expect at NAIMUN?

NAIMUN committees are organized into six standing bodies called organs: General Assemblies, Economic and Social Councils, Regionals, Councils, Summits, and Courts; and Cabinets. General Assemblies (GAs) are large gatherings of delegates that address fundamental issues in a very realistic environment – examples include the traditional 1st Committee (DISEC) and 4th Committee (Legal) as well as unconventional committees such as the Russian Duma, among others. Economic and Social Councils (ECOSOCs) are moderate to large size committees that specialize in working with, as their name suggests, economic and social issues – examples include British House of Commons and the WHO. Regionals are moderately sized committees that bring a bloc of nations together to discuss issues affecting specifically one area of the world – examples include the African Union and British East India Company. Councils, Summits, and Courts (CSCs) are moderate to small committees dealing with all sorts of issues – examples include the Society of the Muslim Brotherhood and Exxon Mobil Board of Directors. Cabinets are small, elite committees that take delegates behind the closed doors of a government in the midst of a crisis – examples include the Japanese Cabinet, 1894 and the Soviet Politburo, 1989.

Where should I go from here?

Research is the first and foremost aid in preparing for the conference, and there are multiple resources and sites that can aid delegates in the preparation of these data. After collecting the information, delegates must write a Position Paper that summarizes their nation’s position on specific issues and lays out the goals the nation wants to achieve in committee. At the conference, delegates will write Resolutions to submit their proposals to the committee for approval, and will use Parliamentary Procedure to debate, discuss, and compromise with other delegates on the issues. Other useful information can be found in the Other Resources and FAQs sections of this guide. We wish you the best of luck and look forward to greeting you at NAIMUN!